The Go Ahead Boys and Simon's Mine eBook

The statement at once led to the story of the coming
of the two white men and their strange departure.
Grant explained how Zeke and Thomas Jefferson had
each made a search, but the two men had disappeared.
It was suspected, however, that they had gone farther
into Thorn’s Gulch and were determined to make
their own search for the lost claim of Simon Moultrie.

“If they get there first,” said Zeke dryly,
“we may have our troubles staking any claim
when we come.”

“Well, we shan’t get there unless we start,”
declared Fred, whose mood now had changed completely.
“I’m for starting as early as we can get
John up to-morrow morning.”

Whether or not it was the rivalry of the boys that
caused them to rise early the following morning is
not known, but the sun had not yet appeared above
the eastern horizon when after a breakfast, prepared
by Zeke and Pete, the Go Ahead Boys, together with
the guides and the two Navajos, who now by common
consent had become members of the party, once more
began their search for the claim which Simon Moultrie
had staked.

CHAPTER XX

TWO CROW TREE

The party was compelled to move somewhat slowly as
Fred and George had not yet entirely recovered from
their recent experiences. Their spirits, however,
were high, and in the bracing air of the early morning
the troubles of the preceding night were forgotten.

Zeke and Thomas Jefferson led the way while Pete and
the other Navajo formed a rear guard. The packs
had been rearranged so that now the burdens were lighter
for every one. Indeed, the loss of the pack which
their white visitor had taken had made the guides
somewhat anxious concerning the outlook for supplies.
A journey of one hundred miles at least would be required
to obtain fresh provisions and at least a week would
be necessary if one of the guides should be sent to
obtain them. There might be difficulty too in
bringing in the supplies even if they should be obtained.

In a measure the boys reflected the feeling of their
leaders, but their confidence in the speedy outcome
of their quest was keen and as a consequence other
things were ignored or forgotten.

As the morning waned the conversation lagged somewhat
and the hour was near when they planned to stop for
their noonday meal and rest. They were now walking
along the rim of the great Gulch. Their pathway
had led upward and indeed there were places immediately
below them where it was more than doubtful if they
would be able to proceed.

At a sudden sharp call from Zeke the remaining members
of the party hastened forward to the place where the
guide was standing.

“Look ahead of you,” said Zeke. “Do
you see anything?”

“I see rocks and the rim of the Gulch, plenty
of sand and lots of sky,” replied Fred glibly.